I Drove 10 SUVs This Year: Here Are the 3 That Actually Impressed Me

Car reviewers get to drive a lot of vehicles but most people only test drive two or three before deciding. After driving ten different SUVs this year these are the three that stood out.

Best All-Rounder: Mazda CX-5

I know everyone recommends the CX-5 but there is a reason. For around twenty eight thousand dollars you get a genuinely nice interior, handling that makes you forget you are in an SUV, and reliability scores that consistently beat the competition.

Is it the most exciting? No. But after six months of driving everything from luxury Germans to budget Koreans the CX-5 is the one I would spend my own money on.

Best Value: Honda CR-V Hybrid

The CR-V hybrid returns real world fuel economy in the high thirties. That is genuinely impressive for a vehicle this size. Add Honda's reputation for longevity and you have something that makes financial sense over seven to ten years.

The downside is it is not fun to drive. At all. But not everyone needs that.

The Surprise: Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai has come so far it is almost unfair to the competition. The current Tucson has a design that turns heads, a warranty that crushes everyone else, and tech features that make cars costing fifteen thousand more look outdated.

The dual clutch transmission can be jerky at low speeds. That is the main complaint. Otherwise it is shockingly good.

I share reviews like these regularly at NextCarReview.com where I test cars the way real people actually use them.